Leona G. Shea

Born on April 16, 1935 in Fall River, MA Leona was the daughter of the late William F. and Grace H. (Hadfield) Shea. She was a graduate of Mount St Mary’s Academy class of 1954, received her Bachelor’s Degree from Mercy College in 1960 and earned her Masters of Education from Rhode Island College in 1969.

Leona was a reading specialist at Brayton Avenue School in Fall River, MA and the principal at the Bishop Tyler School in Providence, RI. She was the first principal at St Philip’s School in Greenville, RI. She taught for many years at the Ralph M. Small School in Fall River, Massachusetts retiring in 1998.

It was in 1960, at Holy Ghost Convent where a lifelong sisterhood was formed with the late Bernice McCusker, who became her best friend and constant companion.

She was a communicant of St. Thomas More Church in Somerset and volunteered for many years at Clifton Nursing Home and Clifton Assisted Living, leading prayer groups and as a Eucharistic Minister. She and Bern were also known to dress as leprechauns and break into song and dance.

Leona is survived by her Godson, Nicholas Thibault and his wife Jonell; cousins Stephen Roy and his wife Linda; Kathleen Gunning and her partner Greg Ruest; Elaine Thibault and her husband Len; Donald Roy and his wife Debra; Patricia Albin and her husband Jack; Michael Roy and his partner Deb Devlin.

Her funeral will be held on Monday May 23, 2022 at 9:00AM from the Waring-Sullivan Home at Birchcrest, 189 Gardners Neck Rd., Swansea followed by her Funeral Mass at 10:00AM in St. Thomas More Church, 386 Luther Ave., Somerset. Visiting hours will be Sunday May 22, 2022 from 1:00 to 4:00PM. Burial will take place in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Fall River.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Sisters of Mercy Northeast, 15 Highland View Road, Cumberland, RI 02864.